The Nationals took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning at Petco Park on Sunday afternoon, parlaying a hustle double by Denard Span and a stolen base into a run-scoring groundout by Kevin Frandsen. In the second, Ian Desmond homered for the second straight game, again blasting a ball over the wall in center field for his team-leading 13th homer. It scored Ryan Zimmerman, who had led off the frame with a single. Three runs isn't a windfall, but it's a nice early cushion for right-hander Jordan...

Orioles pitchers have issued 10 walks today. I'm pretty sure most teams tend to lose when that happens. Starter Ubaldo Jimenez was responsible for five free passes in 2 1/3 innings. Reliever Brad Brach issued five in two-plus innings. Oakland scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 10-0 lead. On only seven hits. Twice today, the Orioles walked Oakland's 7-9 batters in succession - Jimenez in the third and Brach in the fifth. The 10 walks are the most by the Orioles since a...

The umpires saved Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez from the indignity of a grand slam this afternoon. They couldn't do it twice. Jimenez turned in his shortest start of the season, allowing six runs and only two hits over 2 1/3 innings. He issued five walks, including three straight to the last three Oakland batters in the lineup to load the bases with no outs in the third. John Jaso followed with what appeared to be a grand slam to center field, the ball bouncing back onto the field. First...

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games today with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning. Markakis is 20-for-52 (.385) during the streak. Markakis and Toronto's Jose Bautisa are the only players in the majors with two streaks of 12 or more games this season. Naturally, Markakis' hit today came in the first. He's now 24-for-59 (.407) in the opening frame this season. Nick Hundley is starting behind the plate today for the Orioles after Caleb Joseph caught last...

There's both good news and bad news for the Nationals on the Anthony Rendon front. The good news is that Rendon hit in the cage Sunday morning, a positive development after he left Friday night's game and missed Saturday's contest after being hit in the right hand by a Carlos Quentin grounder. The fact that he could grip the bat and swing is a step in the right direction. The bad news is that Rendon's hand - specifically the area around his right thumb - remains sore enough that he's out...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated right-hander Tommy Hunter from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Evan Meek to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunter, 27, was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 21 with a left groin strain. He has gone 1-1 with 11 saves and a 6.06 ERA (16.1IP, 11ER) in 19 games for the Orioles. Meek, 31, is 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA (12.2IP, 9ER) in 13 games for the Orioles this season.

The Orioles have activated Tommy Hunter from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Evan Meek to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunter went on the DL retroactive to May 21 with a left groin strain. He's 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in 19 appearances, with 11 runs, 25 hits allowed, five walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. Zach Britton has taken over as closer, and Hunter figures to work more in a set-up role. Hunter pitched in one rehab game at Single-A Delmarva, striking out two and hitting a batter last...

The Oakland A's have lost just five series all year and just two of 10 road series in 2014. Can the Orioles become the third team to pin a road series loss on the A's today? Oakland has won seven, lost two and tied one road series. The two series losses came against American League East teams. Oakland went 1-2 at Boston from May 2-4 and 0-3 at Toronto from May 23-25. The A's have the best road record in the league, which is now 21-12 after Saturday night's loss. Ubaldo Jimenez (2-6, 4.39...

The Orioles will officially activate reliever Tommy Hunter before the start of today's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter was waiting to talk to the player involved in the corresponding roster move. Hunter had two strikeouts and hit a batter last night at Single-A Delmarva. He threw 11 pitches, eight for strikes. "He's ready to go," Showalter said. The Shorebirds posted the lowest May ERA (2.11) of any full-season minor league team. "Tommy said he felt...

With left-hander Scott Kazmir on the mound for the A's, the Orioles are fielding a righty-loaded lineup for this afternoon's series finale. Nick Markakis and Chris Davis are the only left-handed hitters in the order. Steve Pearce is serving as the designated hitter, Jonathan Schoop is at second and Nick Hundley is behind the plate. Kazmir is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA so far this season, but in a strange twist, is doing better against right-handed hitters than against lefties this year. Kazmir...